| Abstract: |
Archaeological excavations in 1999 at Northgate House, London EC2, and in 2000 at Copthall Close, and a watching brief at Kent House, uncovered evidence for the Roman pottery industry in the second century AD. New information relating to the alignment of the Walbrook stream was also revealed, leading to a reinterpretation of the upper Walbrook valley. A total of eight features on the west side of a tributary of the Walbrook were interpreted as kilns, in a variety of forms; in addition there was a structure thought to be the potters' workshop. There appeared to be two main phases of pottery production in the first half of the second century AD, the first consisting of two complete circular kilns and part of the flue of a third, while the remains of three bottle-shaped kilns were recorded in the second, along with two much smaller features that appeared to be connected with the industry. A timber barrel-well produced a rich assemblage of finds. A stock of unused samian ware from one pit suggests that pottery may have been sold in a shop attached to the production centre. The industries went into decline in the second half of the second century AD, though there is residual evidence for glass working taking place nearby in the mid-second century AD, as well as other activity. There was some evidence for occupation in the third century, continuing into the fourth, in the shape of scattered structures and pitting. Medieval activity was largely limited to a series of industrial pits and a large ditch on the line of the Walbrook tributary (published separately). A significant discovery was the fact that the Roman kilns were producing Verulamium region white ware, linking the kilns to the Verulamium industry and indicating the need for a reassessment of the pottery supply to London in this period. Includes French and German summaries; separately authored reports include |
